Topical Encyclopedia
The term "perfectly" in the context of the Bible often relates to the idea of completeness, maturity, or wholeness in one's spiritual life and relationship with God. It is not necessarily about being without flaw, but rather about reaching a state of spiritual maturity and alignment with God's will.
Old Testament ContextIn the Old Testament, the concept of perfection is often linked with the idea of being blameless or upright. For example, in
Genesis 6:9, Noah is described as "a righteous man, blameless among his contemporaries; Noah walked with God." Here, the term "blameless" can be understood as living in a way that is fully aligned with God's expectations, which is a form of living perfectly in the sight of God.
New Testament ContextIn the New Testament, the call to be perfect is more explicitly connected to spiritual maturity and completeness in Christ. Jesus Himself commands in
Matthew 5:48, "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." This verse is part of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus teaches about the deeper righteousness that surpasses that of the Pharisees. The perfection Jesus speaks of is about love and holiness, reflecting the character of God.
The Apostle Paul also addresses the concept of perfection in his letters. In
Philippians 3:12-15, Paul writes, "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been perfected, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus. All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things." Here, Paul acknowledges that perfection is a process and encourages believers to strive towards spiritual maturity.
Theological ImplicationsTheologically, the concept of perfection in the Bible is often associated with sanctification, the process by which believers are made holy through the work of the Holy Spirit. This process involves growing in love, faith, and obedience to God. In
1 Thessalonians 5:23, Paul prays, "Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your entire spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." The word "completely" here is akin to being perfected in holiness.
Practical ApplicationFor believers, striving for perfection involves a commitment to spiritual growth and a deepening relationship with God. It means living a life that reflects the character of Christ, marked by love, humility, and obedience.
James 1:4 encourages believers, "Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." This maturity is the goal of the Christian life, achieved through perseverance and reliance on God's grace.
In summary, the biblical concept of "perfectly" encompasses the idea of spiritual maturity and completeness in Christ. It is a call to live a life that reflects God's holiness and love, continually growing in faith and obedience.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
adv.) In a perfect manner or degree; in or to perfection; completely; wholly; thoroughly; faultlessly.
Greek
197. akribesteron -- moreperfectly.... akribesteron. 198 . more
perfectly. Transliteration: akribesteron Phonetic Spelling:
(ak-ree-bes'-ter-on) Short Definition:
perfectly.
... more
perfectly.
...1840. exischuo -- to have strength enough
... enough. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: exischuo Phonetic Spelling:
(ex-is-khoo'-o) Short Definition: I have strength for, amperfectly able Definition:...
5049. teleios -- completely
... completely. Part of Speech: Adverb Transliteration: teleios Phonetic Spelling:
(tel-i'-oce) Short Definition:perfectly Definition:perfectly, completely...
1552. ekdelos -- wholly evident
... wholly evident. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: ekdelos Phonetic Spelling:
(ek'-day-los) Short Definition:perfectly evident, manifest Definition...
1295. diasozo -- to bring safely through (a danger), to save...
... escape safely, heal, makeperfectly whole, save.... bring safe, escape (safe), heal,
makeperfectly whole, save. see GREEK dia. see GREEK sozo....
3173. megas -- great
... huge (1), large (8), larger (2), larger ones (1), long time (1), loud (42), mighty
(1), more important (2), older (1), one greater (1),perfectly (2), severe (2...
5051. teleiotes -- a completer, finisher
... In every scene of His earthly life, Jesus lived in faith, ie receiving and
perfectly obeying the inbirthing of the Father's will ()....
199. akribos -- with exactness
... circumspectly, diligently,perfectly. Adverb from the same as akribestatos; exactly --
circumspectly, diligently, perfect(-ly). see GREEK akribestatos....
3956. pas -- all, every
... 1), everyone* (1), everything (45), forever* (1), full (2), great (2), no* (15),
none* (1), nothing (1), nothing* (1), one (4),perfectly (1), quite (1...
1245. diakatharizo -- to cleanse thoroughly
... thoroughly purge. From dia and katharizo; to cleanseperfectly, ie (specially)
winnow -- thoroughly purge. see GREEK dia. see GREEK katharizo....
Strong's Hebrew
998. binah -- an understanding... knowledge, meaning,
perfectly, understanding, wisdom. From biyn; understanding --
knowledge, meaning, X
perfectly, understanding, wisdom. see HEBREW biyn.
...Library
HopePerfectly
... THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PETER HOPEPERFECTLY. 'Wherefore, gird up the loins
of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end, for the grace...
Hence it isPerfectly Clear that Neither Words nor Singing if Used...
... Of Prayer. John Calvin Chapter 31 Hence it isperfectly clear that neither
words nor singing if used in prayer are? Hence it is...
God AlonePerfectly Good.
... Fundamental. Chapter 37. "God AlonePerfectly Good. 42. What harm, you ask,
would follow if those things too wereperfectly good? Still...
It isPerfectly Clear that no one Can Come Near the Purity of the...
... II."Ascetic and Moral. Chapter XXI. It isperfectly clear that no one
can come near the purity of the Divine? It isperfectly...
Believers CanPerfectly Fulfill the Law, and Live in the World...
... ARTICLE XXIX (IX.) Believers canperfectly fulfill the Law, and live in
the world without sin. Believers canperfectly fulfill the...
Is any Man AblePerfectly to Keep the Commandments of God?
... Question 82: Is any man ableperfectly to keep the commandments of God? A82:
No mere man since the fall is able in this lifeperfectly...
The Commandment of Love Shall bePerfectly Fulfilled in the Life...
... Augustin to his holy brethren and fellow-bishops Eutropius and Paulus. (19.) The
Commandment of Love Shall BePerfectly Fulfilled in the Life to Come....
Thus You See How God HasPerfectly Pleased Me: it Ought Also to be...
... THE FOURTH CENTURY 52 Thus you see how God hasperfectly pleased me: it
ought also to be my careperfectly to please Him. Thus you...
When Good Will bePerfectly Done.
... Book I. Chapter 32."When Good Will BePerfectly Done. The apostle then
adds these words: "For I know that in me (that is, in my...
Serapion: Everybody isPerfectly Agreed that There are Eight...
... II. Second Conference of Abbot Moses. Chapter XVIII. Serapion: Everybody isperfectly
agreed that there are eight principal faults which affect a monk....
Thesaurus
Perfectly (24 Occurrences)...Perfectly (24 Occurrences).
... Matthew 14:36 And besought him that they might only touch
the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made
perfectly whole.
...Enquire (42 Occurrences)
... In Acts 23:15, "enquire something moreperfectly" is substituted by "judge
more exactly." In Matthew 10:11, "search out" replaces it....
Lift (283 Occurrences)
... "Lift" is stillperfectly good English, but not in all the senses in... However, almost
all the uses areperfectly clear, and only the following need be noted....
Flies (16 Occurrences)
... devoured them." There has been much speculation as to what the insects were, but
all the texts cited, including even Psalm 78:45, may applyperfectly well to...
Prey (105 Occurrences)
... When Job wanted to tell howperfectly the path to the gold mine was concealed, he
wrote, "That path no bird of prey knoweth" (Job 28:7). The inference is, that...
Shihor (5 Occurrences)
... point. This Shi-t-Hor, "Stream of Horus," makesperfectly clear and harmonious
the different references of Scripture to South. It...
Perfection (30 Occurrences)
... shall himself perfect," margin "restore," for, "make you perfect" (1 Peter 5:10);
"perfecter" for "finisher" (Hebrews 12:2); "perfectly" is omitted in the...
Lazarus (19 Occurrences)
... convicting acknowledgment? The dismay of the priests at the miracle and their
silence about it areperfectly compatible and natural. No...
Dreamer (4 Occurrences)
... Perhaps psychologically there can be no such thing asperfectly dreamless
sleep. Such a condition would probably be death itself....
Fly (33 Occurrences)
... devoured them." There has been much speculation as to what the insects were, but
all the texts cited, including even Psalm 78:45, may applyperfectly well to...
Resources
Are we to love the sinner but hate the sin? | GotQuestions.orgI am a Catholic. Why should I consider becoming a Christian? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean that God is just? | GotQuestions.orgPerfectly: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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